Building-block.



A. D. CONVERSE. BUILDING BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.13.19!G.

Patentd Nev. 191?.

ATHERTON I). CONVERSE, ()F WINCHENDON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 6, 191 *7.

Application filed December 13, 1916. Serial No. 137,047.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Arrrnn'ron D. Convnnsn, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and a resident of lVinchendon, in the county ofWVorcest-er and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Building- Blocks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to toy building blocks, and has for its objectthe provision of a; block of this character which may be locked securelywith other blocks to form various shaped structures.

The invention consists in providing each block with a plurality ofyielding headed projections and also with a T-shaped-groove adapted toreceive the headed projections of another block whereby said blocks maybe firmly locked together.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference tothe description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention one preferred form thereofis illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to givesatisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood thatthe various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can bevariously arranged and organized, and that the invention ,is not limitedto the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalitiesas herein shown and described.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a perspective of a block embodying the principles ofthe present invention.

Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 represents an elevation of the same with a portion broken insection.

Fig. 4: represents a transverse vertical section on line 4-4: on Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 represents a similar section of two blocks locked together, and

Fig. 6 represents an enlarged sectional detail showing the constructionof the yielding headed projection.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figuresof the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 is a rectangular block of which the side faces 11are of equal area the tubular shank 14 of a and preferably have a lengthtwice the width thereof.

In one or more side faces 11 of said block 10 is cut a T-shapedgroovecomprising a slot 12 extending from end to end of said block andcommunicating centrally with a slit l3 ext-ending to an outer face 11thereof. The slit 13 is preferably centrally located a side face 11 andis adapted to receive yielding member 15 projecting from a side face 11of a similar block 10. r

The inner end of the shank 14 is provided with an annular flange 16extending inwardly and surrounding the shank 17 of a securing memberdriven into the block 10 and having ahead 18 between which-and theflange 16 is interposed a helical-spring 19 which normally retains theend of the tubular shank 14 in contact with the face 11 of the block;

The length of the exposed surface of said shank 14. beneath the head 15is slightly less than the width of the side walls 20 of the slit 13. Theprojecting members 17 with the yielding members 15 thereon are disposedin alin'ement longitudinally of the face of a block 10 and preferablymidway of the width thereof.

The peripheral flange of each yielding member 15 is adapted to bepositioned in the slot 12 and when thus positioned the end 16 of itsshank 14 is separated from the face of the block 10, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is obvious that when the yielding member 15 is thus positioned in theT-shaped groove 12-13, the action of the spring 19 will be to force thefaces of the two adjacent blocks into close contact with each other andat the same time to create suflicient friction between the two toprevent any end movement of one block relatively to the other.

While in the drawings the groove 1213 is shown as cut into only one faceof a block it is self-evident that similar grooves may be cut into thefaces 11 without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is equally true that more than one face 11 may be provided with theyielding members 15 when desired.

When toy building blocks such as herein shown are used in erecting astructure the units of said structure will be locked together so firmlythat the entire structure may be moved bodily without danger of theaccidental displacement of any of the units thereof.

This makes a very simple construction of toy building blocks, saidblocks having the advantage that they may be quickly locked togetherwhile building any structure therefrom, and be separated quickly whendesired.

It is believed that the many advantages of this invention will be fullyunderstood from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A building block provided with a T- shaped groove in one face and aplurality of outwardly yielding headed projections in another face,fitting a T-shaped groove of another block and adapted to yield out-'wardly when inserted in said groove whereby the ad acent faces of theblocks may be retained in close contact.

2. A building block provided with a T- shaped groove in one face; aplurality of alined headed nails secured in another face; aspringsurrounding each nail between its head and the face of the block;and a headed member surrounding the proj eoting portion of said nailandnormally held in contact with said block by means of said spring.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 3. A building block providedwith a T- shaped groove in one face; a plurality of alined headed nailssecured in another face; a spring surrounding each nail between its headand the face of the block; and a tubular member surrounding theprojecting portion of said nail and normally held in contact with saidblock by means of said spring, said tubular member having an annularflange at its outer end.

4. A building block provided with a slot extending between two facesandcommunieating with another face by a central slit narrower than saidslot; a plurality of alined headed nails secured in another face; aspring surrounding each nail between its head and the face of the block;and a tubular headed member surrounding the projecting portion of saidnail and normally held in contact with said block by means of saidspring, the length of the shank of said headed member being slightlyless than the depth of the wall of said slit.

Signed by me at 4 Post Oflice Sq,, Boston, Mass, this 4th day ofDecember, 1916.

ATHERTON DCONVERSE. Witnesses:

WALTER E. LOMBARD, NATHAN C. LOMBARD.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington,D. 0.

